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shiroi_tiger in fandomhigh

American History, Period 2, 01/08

Jan 07, 2009 21:29

When students entered the classroom today, they would find not one, but two men standing at the front. One of them was probably familiar to some of them, the other one was a new face... Although his wardrobe probably needed a little updating.

( And The Rest Is History! )

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Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 04:37:19 UTC

You! Name, class, which historical figure you would challenge, and why!

Re: Introductions! flowering_mind January 8 2009, 04:59:39 UTC

"I'm Ino Yamanaka, a sophomore, and I... guess I can't get away with either of my usual answers for this one, so um..."

A long, long pause.

"You know," she said slowly, "I honestly don't know. I mean, I don't like some decisions of some people, but when my village has done the same or worse as any other village it's hard to pick one person to lecture. Especially when I don't know all their circumstances 'round why they did what they did."

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 05:17:36 UTC

"That's an interesting answer, Miss Yamanaka," Algren noted, raising an eyebrow. "Are you simply accepting the way things are, then, without wondering what might have put your villages into situations which cause them to take the actions that they have? You said that yours has done the same or worse as any other, is that because you find yourself in a situation that might be different, were actions made differently in the past?"

Re: Introductions! flowering_mind January 8 2009, 05:28:34 UTC

"Well," she said, tugging at a bit of her hair, "I mean, there's not much I can do but accept the way things are now, right? I mean, I can change the present and work on changing the future, but the past isn't something I can alter. So it... almost seems silly to say 'if this and this were done differently then we wouldn't be like this' because we are like that. You can learn from the past, sure, but you've also got to, you know, accept it and make your changes for the future. Dwelling on something like 'if I could've changed that there' just leads to a lot of headaches 'cause you can't change it."

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 05:42:01 UTC

"You're right," Algren agreed, nodding. "You can't change what happened. But you can direct your future. Instead of challenging anyone in particular from the past, Miss Yamanaka, is there anyone you know of in the present who, if you had the ability to steer in a direction you thought was right, you would confront? Not to change today or yesterday, but to improve upon tomorrow, instead?"

Re: Introductions! flowering_mind January 8 2009, 14:13:01 UTC

Now she looked rueful. "A lot of people," Ino said. "Though I can't say if my way would be right or not, but it really bugs me when people say 'I can't do this' or 'I'll never be good enough to try' and never bother to even attempt going after what they want. Which, I guess, most of it probably isn't the stuff that history is made of--they don't write stories 'bout just everyday people taking everyday steps to improve themselves--I don't know. I don't like people who don't try. Even if the trying turns out wrong, I'd rather they do that."

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 18:09:46 UTC

"Trying with the right intentions and ending with entirely the wrong results- what do you make of those people, then? If they were looking to promote peace, and instead ended up with a bigger war under their noses, you wouldn't fault them for trying, simply because they didn't roll over and give up in the first place?" Algren paused for a moment, thinking on the subject some more. "Maybe, then, instead of somebody to challenge, is there anyone in history who tried, and who failed, who you might have wanted to speak to, if given the opportunity?"

Re: Introductions! flowering_mind January 8 2009, 18:23:21 UTC

She thought for a long while. "Hatake Sakumo, he's from my world, not this one," Ino decided. "He... was on a mission, team leader, and the team got into a lot of trouble. He had the choice to either salvage the mission, or save his teammates."

"He choose his teammates--but the fallout from the mission being uncompleted started a war, and eventually he suicided because of it." Ino glanced up at Algren-sensei. "I'd tell him he should live instead of giving into despair. 'Cause I think he did the right thing, in saving his teammates. And, in killing himself, that he'd only make other people sad. There's a lot of reasons for a war to start, and him taking all of the blame for it isn't right."

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 18:41:21 UTC

Algren listened to Ino's retelling intently, shelving the concept of 'other worlds' just enough that it wouldn't distract him while he absorbed the specifics of the story.

"Taking your own life doesn't ever undo the actions you've made while living it," Algren noted. "And the responsibility for an entire war would be difficult to place on the shoulders of simply one man, when there are other factors, such as the will of the body of people also choosing to fight, to be considered. A good choice, Miss Yamanaka."

Re: Introductions! flowering_mind January 8 2009, 18:52:45 UTC

"Thank you," she said. "I'd also tell him if he felt so bad 'bout the war then he should fight to end it 'stead of running away from it. But, well, that's not what happened."

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 19:21:59 UTC

"And you're still feeling the implications of it today?" Algren nodded, satisfied, and clasped his hands behind his back. "Thank you for sharing, Miss Yamanaka."

Re: Introductions! justwantsquiet January 8 2009, 05:02:04 UTC

"I'm Sookie Stackhouse, I'm a sophomore, and I'd confont...William Tecumseh Sherman."

There. That seemed like the best answer for a good Southern girl like herself.

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 05:19:46 UTC

"Major General Sherman?" Algren crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head a little, bemused at the reply. "And is there any one reason why you would challenge him in particular?"

Re: Introductions! justwantsquiet January 8 2009, 05:22:15 UTC

"He destroyed the South. And a lot of it just to be vindictive. I understand about war, I do, but he didn't have to go as far as he did," she said firmly.

Re: Introductions! shiroi_tiger January 8 2009, 05:33:29 UTC

"You find his methods questionable," Algren noted, nodding. "A brilliant strategist, but ruthless, destroying the property of civilians to ensure that his enemy never find secure footing where he's passed."

He was pacing, now, eyebrows raised, lips pursed in thought.

"I'm curious, and understand that I won't think less of you regardless of your answer, but does this blame rest solely on Sherman's head, or do you find the Union Army as a whole guilty for those actions?"

Re: Introductions! justwantsquiet January 8 2009, 05:42:09 UTC

"I think," Sookie said carefully, weighing her words, "that his decisions could have been better, and that people looked right to him, as they should. He was the leader. I'm sure not every Yankee approved of what he had them doing, but he was the one who could've put the brakes on, and he didn't. He surely had other people advising him, but he was in charge. He could have done it different, and he didn't. He hurt civilians and their property to make his chances a little better. And like I said, I understand war, at least in theory? But he crossed a line. He crossed about forty lines, really, during his March to the Sea. We still haven't forgotten, you know. I might not be from Georgia or anything, but over in Louisiana, people still call it the War of Northern Aggression for a reason."

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